Here's why: In order to get on the primary ballot, a candidate must file a petition of nomination. To get one of these, you need at least 4,500 signatures -- 500 from each of the state's nine House districts. The deadline is tomorrow at noon.

No established Democratic candidate was even thinking of getting a petition because Bayh was unbeatable. So what Bayh did was pull out of the race at the equivalent of the two-minute warning. No one would have time to get all of those signatures.

Although there were plenty of people upset at Bayh's timing, this could actually help the party's chances. The Democratic state central committee gets to pick who they see as the strongest candidate to go up against the Republican. The benefit of this is there's no primary and no infighting.

This is what will likely happen.

However, a little known candidate -- a political novice named Tamyra D'Ippolito -- reportedly has 3,500 signatures. She has about 18 hours to get the extra 1,000.

If D'Ippolito somehow completes this political equivalent of a Hail Mary, she'd be alone on the ballot. Zero name recognition. And, presumably, zero influence. Against someone -- whoever the Republicans pick -- who's been around the block. Sure, Democrats could always launch a write-in campaign in the primary but that's another story.

Getting the thousand signatures is not likely. But it's impact would be the equivalent of Manning's fourth quarter interception.

It's not likely to happen. And even if it doesn't, Bayh's decision leaves the seat at much risk. The Cook Report moves the seat to Lean Republican while the Rothenberg Political Report moves it to toss-up.

Oh yeah, the Purdue game? Starts at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday on the Big Ten Network.

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